8 Things to Organise Before You Move Abroad
Amongst all the excitement, moving abroad can also be a chaotic, turbulent, and stressful time. One of the most important ways you can manage these negative elements associated with a big move is to get organised ahead of time.
Getting everything in order as early as possible will help the last few weeks leading up to the move to be much calmer and more manageable. Here are some important things to take care of.
Your Documents
Of course, making sure that your passports and visa documents are in order should be your first priority. If you don’t have them already, these documents can take weeks to process, so it’s best that you have them sorted out as soon as possible.
You should also be sure to keep them safely on your person at all times when travelling – invest in a high-quality travel document binder to help you protect them.
Your Insurance
Unfortunately, your insurance companies won’t cover you anymore when you’re halfway across the world, so you’ll need to look into insurance options in your new country.
When you initially move abroad, you’ll need to invest in worldwide health insurance until you obtain citizenship in your new country. You’ll also have to consider travel insurance for the journey and for your stuff (if you’re shipping it all along with you). Don’t forget life cover and home insurance too.
Your Travel
In order to move abroad, you actually need to, well, move. And that is going to entail travelling! Many people don’t realise that the further in advance they book flight tickets, the more affordable they often are.
Booking all your travel ahead will also take that stress off your shoulders for good. Remember that travelling with pets entails a lot of extra admin and planning, so if your four-legged friends are moving with you, find out what the process is ASAP.
Your Short-Term Accommodation
Often, people will move abroad without having a place to live just yet. This is a common choice for people who would prefer to house hunt in person, rather than just looking online.
However, you’ll need somewhere to sleep when you first arrive, so be sure to book a hotel room or a guest house or find a friend or family member to visit if you’re lucky enough to know someone in your new city.
Your Living Situation
Once you’ve arrived, one of the most important things you’ll need to do is find a new home. Nobody wants to spend weeks living in a hotel, so the sooner you can find a more permanent place to live, the better.
Sometimes, people will jump straight into this process by looking for properties to rent online. Sometimes, you’ll even be able to sign a lease digitally and be ready and set to move into your new home as soon as you touch down in your new city.
Your Work
Often, people relocate for a job, but this is not always the case. Perhaps you’re relocating just for the sake of a change of scenery and new opportunities, or maybe your partner has moved for their job, and you have to walk away from your own to follow them.
In these cases, finding work is important. Not only for the sake of managing our finances but starting at a new job can help us to find purpose in our new environments as well as meet new people.
Your/Your Kids’ Education
Education is a big part of our lives. If you’re moving abroad to study, then getting things organised with your school is top of the list of priorities.
If you’re a mom or dad, you’ll need to find a school for your children. All parents know that choosing a school for your kids is stressful, and doing it in a completely foreign country and a strange city is even more of a nightmare. It’s always recommended to visit schools in person if you can.
Your Budget
For any big life change or project, creating a budget is important. This is why budgeting is last, but certainly not least on this list. You’ll need to budget for the move itself, which can be expensive.
However, you’ll also need to try your best to create a budget for what your monthly, general expenses will be in your new home. This can be tough to do when you’re not sure about the cost of living, but a rough estimate will be a good start.
Final Words
Don’t let this huge list of things to plan overwhelm you. Rather, try to get started as soon as you can and handle each issue one by one. By doing this, you’ll give yourself loads of time to tackle everything without too much pressure, and hopefully, by the time you move, it will be a stress-free experience.
Website Blocking in the Workplace
8 Things to Organise Before You Move Abroad
